Grass-Fed Beef vs Corn-Fed Beef

1. 64

   Maddie Ruudposted 15 years ago

   Grass-Fed Beef vs Corn-Fed Beef
   
   What are the risks of feeding our meat cows corn, which they are not designed to eat?  With all those risks, why do we do it?

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2. 83

   kerrygposted 15 years ago

   Oops, I missed this question when you posted it, but just wrote a hub for the current hubmob that you might find answers this one as well:
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Benefits-of-Grass-Fed-Beef

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3. 61

   Alaisaposted 15 years ago

   Corn is not something that a cow would eat if a cow were let free to roam. So why do we feed cows corn? Because it's cheap and because the government has paid farmers to grow excesses of corn. 
   
   Grass-fed cows are following a more natural cycle by eating their traditional food-source. Thus, the meat from these cows is much less "messed around with."  So, if you're looking to eliminate as many chemicals as you can from your diet, grass-fed is the way to go.

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4. 58

   flread45posted 15 years ago

   It all depends on what type of cattle you are talking about.
   Beef cattle fed on grass tend to be more tough,because they don't have marble in the meat from eating corn products.
   Dairy cattle fed grass without a corn or grain supplement will not produce as much milk.That is why you see beef cattle in a feed yard and milk cows confined to a dairy setting.
   As far as risks are concerned feeding corn to livestock,is no different then me eating corn off the stock.
   Mostly a big myth created by people who are vegetarians.
   Any time you buy beef in the store it will most likely be corn or grain fed.
   Any time you buy milk in the store it will most likely be from dairy cattle fed grain,corn or silage.

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5. 72

   Silver Poetposted 15 years ago

   I did a search just to make sure I was right about this, and it confirmed my idea.  Corn is a member of the grass family.  Corn was wild at one time, I suppose, and I also suppose that if a wild bovine met a patch of wild corn, the animal just might consume it.

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6. 67

   WildRoseBeefposted 15 years ago

   Acidosis, bloat, liver abcesses, and as as a result, having to be fed medicated feed to prevent these disorders.  This is what all feedlot managers have to deal with when finishing cattle on a "hot-diet" or a diet of 90% grain (be it corn, barley, wheat or soy). Manure build up, soil erosion, dust, methane and carbon emissions, as well as emissions from machinery are also environmental concerns and risks for feeding cattle grain.
   
   Why do we do it? Profit. It's quicker and easier to fatten cattle up on grain than it is on grass.  Plus (though I don't really agree with this) you use less land raising cattle on grain than on grass.  The latter I really don't see too clearly though, as with the current mob-grazing techniques being used and managed make it easier to stock more cattle per acre than how much feed per animal a feedlot could generate per acre.  But that's just my opinion.

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7. 60

   Cedar Cove Farmposted 14 years ago

   I doubt there is much I could add to this.  However, there is a assembly line mentality to agriculture these days that cause agribusinessmen to look for cheaper, faster ways to fatten an animal, even if it is unnatural.  Honestly, their pocketbooks get fatter and so do Americans.  They are killing us for a profit.  Who are they?  ADM, ConAgra, Monsanto, Tyson, etc...

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8. 60

   Girllookingoutposted 14 years ago

   If you want Beef that you know everything that they ate, go and find your local 4-H or FFA clubs and buy a steer from them. The kids raise their animals from 2-8 months then sell them at an auction, also the meat is always good because kids are usually only raising at the most 2 steers.

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9. 68

   doodlebugsposted 14 years ago

   It has been shown in several research studies that cattle fattened in a commercial feedlot are essentially "fed to death", and that if they were to keep eating such an extremely high protein diet, they would die a very early death. I wrote a Hub about the advantages of grass fed beef over feedlot beef here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-Eating-Beef- … sing-Truth

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10. 50

    robinhood143posted 13 years ago

    
    
    If you want a  quality range of Artificial Grass, Artificial Turf , Fixing Supplies and Cut to Size Entrance Matting to suit any budget.please visit http://www.simplyturf.co.uk/.

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